Abstract 151: Early Neurologic Decline in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Receiving Thrombolysis with Large Vessel Occlusion and Initial Mild Deficits

Introduction: A quarter of ischemic stroke patients with initial mild deficits have a poor outcome. We sought to determine the rate of early neurological decline in acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) who presented with mild deficits. Methods: Among 1022 acute ischemic stroke patients who received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IVtPA) admitted to our institution from January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2019, we identified 313 (30.6%) with LVO. We defined anterior circulation LVO as M1, M2, or carotid artery terminus (ICAT). Mild deficits were defined as National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≤ 7. Data was abstracted on demographics, neuroimaging, last known well (LKW), time to IVtPA, intra-arterial therapy (IAT) revascularization, Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score (TICI), clinical presentation, and outcome. Early neurologic decline was defined as NIHSS worsening of ≥ 4 points within 24 hours. Results: Among 313 patients with LVO, we identified 94 (30%) who presented with initial low NIHSS (≤ 7) due to anterior circulation LVO. We excluded 13 patients who did not have natural history data (underwent IAT with mild deficits), leaving 81 patient for analysis. The mean age was 65.8 years (range 25 to 93) and 41% were female. IVtPA time from LKW was a mean 2.5 hours (range, 0.8 to 7). LVO sites were as follows: 5 (6%) ICAT, 23 (28%) M1, and 53 (65%) M2 occlusions. Among the 81 patients, 27 (33.3%) had early neurological decline. Patients with decline were significantly older (71.2 vs 63.1 years, p=0.03). Among the 27 patients with decline, the mean change in NIHSS was 10.5 (range, 4 to 22) and 12 patients (44%) underwent rescue IAT resulting in TICI 2B (6) and TICI 3 (6) revascularization. On hospital discharge, patients with decline were less likely to be discharged home (26% vs 65%, p=0.006). Conclusions: Among LVO patients who received IVtPA, 30% present with initial mild deficits. Early neurological decline occurred in one-third of LVO patients with initial mild deficits despite receiving IVtPA, and patients with decline were less likely to be discharged home. Clinicians need to be aware of the natural history of LVO with initial mid deficits, as patients who decline would be eligible for rescue IAT in the expanded 24 hour window.